Gun perforation in wells



April 11, 1944. E. F. RAYMOND GUN PERFORATION IN WELLS Filed April 24,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l \M an 55 i i .IILIIIIIHINIHHIU I I l l I 1 l 1 I Il I l l a fflW/LQD f. A24 yum/w,

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April 11, 1944. E. F. RAYMOND 3 GUN PERFORATION IN WELLS Filed April 24,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BYW m Arr-02min 50/1 4205 ,em/o/va,

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Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUN. rnaronarron 1NwELLs Edward F. Raymond, Wilmington, Calif. Application April 24, 1942,Serial No. 440,319

.14 Claims.

gun perforator-s has certain economic and practical disadvantages due tothe cost and complexities of incidental equipment required for runningand servicing the perforator, as well as the comparatively complicatedconstruction of the gun subsequently employed in the firing andretrieving of the gun which is allowed to fall or otherwise move downalong the cable to operating position.

In its preferred form, the perforator comprises an elongated body whichmay contain any desired number of individual gun units operable toperforate the casing at locations of suitable spacing and arrangement.The body is suitably adapted to move downwardly along the cable, or tobe guided by the cable, as by providing the body with a longitudinalopening or bore through which the cable extends. In the broad aspects ofthe invention, the gun units may be fired simultaneously or sequentiallyby any suitable firing mechanism capable of actuation when or after thegun reaches a predetermined depth in the itself. As an illustration,such perforators require the use of expensive, electricallyequippedtrucks, also the use of special and expensive' cable, as well astrained operating personnel, all of which could desirably be dispensedwith in favor of a gun capable of being run into and removed from thewell by the use of standard equipment always available at the well rig.

- Mention also may be made of prior proposals to use mechanicallyoperated gun perforators, in which the gun is run in the well on a cableand fired by a mechanical means actuated by movement of the cable, as byan upward pull, in distinction to electrical firing by current passedthrough the cable. Although possessing certain advantages and economiesby dispensing with the requirement for electrical equipment and specialcable, such mechanically operated guns lack the simplicity ofconstruction and adaptability to being run with ordinary well rigequipment, that are essentially important if the gun is to beuniversally usable.

My primary object is to provide an improved gun perforator of simpleconstruction and capable of being run in the well and operated by thestandard available equipment, thereby rendering the perforator capableof ready distribution and use at all locations and, as will appear, byoperators requiring no particular training in its handling. Another andmore specific purpose is to avoid necessity for the usual specialsuspension cables by enabling the perforator to be run into the wellfree of movable support from the ground surface. In accordance with theinvention, the functions of a cable may be served by the usual sandline, available at the well rig, which is first run in the well to apredetermined depth, and

well at which the casing is to be perforated. Preferably, firing of thegun units is effected by engagement of the perforator, or of the firingmechanism, with an abutment carried by the cable in measuredrelationship to the casing area to be perforated. In this manner, thegun may be made to fire automatically by virtue of its downward movementinto engagement with the cable-carried abutment. Thereafter, the gunmalslr be retrieved by reeling the cable out of the we All the abovementioned features of the invention, as well as additional objects anddetails, will be understood to better advantage from the description tofollow. Reference is had throughout the description to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view showing the perforator being run into the wellabout the cable or sand line;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the perforator taken in vertical sectionalong the gun units, the

gun barrels however appearing in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section showing one of the gun unitsand the associated firing mechanism;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged cross-sections taken on lines 4-4 and 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a variational form ofthe invention;'

Figs. '7, 8, and 9 are enlarged cross-sections taken on lines |l, 8-8,and 9-9, respectively, of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement of the form of gun unitappearing in elevation in Fig. 6.

As illustrated in Fig. 1. the gun perforator assembly, generallyindicated at It, is adapted to move downwardly within the well casingwhile in engagement with and guided by a cable l2, preferably the usualsand line, which has been run into the well to predetermined depth inadvance of the periorator. The cable I 2, may carry at its lower end asuitable abutment l3, the primary purpose of which is to provide arelatively stationary body against which the firing mechanism of theguns may engage when the periorator reaches the depth, determined bythelocation of the abutment, at which the casing is to be opened. The gunperiorator may be run into the well by restrained gravity drop, orotherwise caused to move downwardly within the casing, independently ofany direct suspension from the ground surface. As illustrative, thediameter of the periorator body is shown to be su-filciently less thanthe internal diameter oi the casing, to permit gravity fall oi theperiorator under the restraining influence of suitable speed regulatingmeans, as generally indicated at H.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, the body l5 oi. theperiorator may be elongated to accommodate any suitable number andarrangement of the individual gun units, generally indicated at I8, thelatter typically being shown in alined relation and adapted to be firedsimultaneously, although broadly the invention is not limited in suchrespects. Each of the gun units i6 is shown to comprise a barrel l1inserted within a transverse bore l8 in the body and retained therein byinterrupted threads |8a and a lock bushing l9 engaged in the counterbore20 by interrupted threads 20a and bearing against the barrel shoulder2|. After insertion of the cartridge 22, the rear of the barrel isclosed by plug 23 confining the cartridge shell flange 24 against thebarrel shoulder 25. Firing pin 26, extending within the bore or plug 23,is formed integrally with a flexible carrier 21 received within recess28 formed in the inner ends of the barrel and plug, the carrier 21 inturn having an integral finger 29 projecting within an opening 30 in thebarrel below the plug. As will appear, pin 23 is advanced to fire thecartridge by deflection of the flexible carrier piece 21. Finger 29serves as a guide for the carrier and pin assembly, and has sufiicientdisplaceability in bore 30 to accommodate deflection 01' piece 21 in thefiring operation.

The gun units l8 are fired by a trigger or elonated firing rod 3|received within a recess 32 in the later described guide member 31, therod extending at its lower end through body bore 33 to a terminal 34projecting below the bottom end of the body. The portion 3|a oi thefiring rod contained within recess 32 preferably is polygonal, orsubstantially square in cross-section, whereas the lower end portion 3|bof the rod extending through bore 33 may be round in section tofacilitate sealing oil by a. suitable packing gland assembly. enerallyindicated at 35. The rod 3| is formed with a series of projections 36received within recesses 23 and engageable with the flexible pieces 21upon upward displacement of the rod, to thrust pins 26 into firingengagement with the cartridges 22. v

The body has a longitudinal recess 38 containing a guide member 31between shoulders 39 and 40 (see Fig. 2), member 31 inturn containingthe above mentioned recess or groove 32 which receives the firing rod3|. Member 31 may be suitably retained in position, as by an integrallyformed bolt 4| (see Fig. 4) projecting outwardly within the body bore 42and secured in place by a ing against the body shoulder 45. Suitablepacking 46 may be provided to seal the bolt against fluid entry alongits exterior. During assembly of the gun, the rod 3| may be lockedagainst displacement in afiring direction by means of pin 41 threadedinto bore 48 of the bolt and proiecting into groove 32 above the end ofthe rod, as illustrated in Fi 2. When the un is to be run into the well,pin 41 may be withdrawn to free the firing rod for upward movement.

The cable l2 passes through the body within a protector tube 58partially received within body recesses 5|, 52, and within recess 53 inthe guide member 31, the ends of the tube 50 being sealed by suitablepacking glands 54. The assembly consisting of the firing rod, guidemember, and cable protector tube isretained within the body by a lockingpiece 55 extending the full length of the body and received within theouter portion of recess 38, as shown in Fig. 4. Above and below theguide member 31, the locking piece 55 is received within shallower bodyrecesses, as indi-- cated at 55 in Fig. 5. The ends of piece 55 areconfined to the body within sleeves 51 and 53 having interrupter threads59 engaging body threads of corresponding angularity (see Fig. 5) andsuitably locked against rotation, as by set screws 80. If desired, thelocking piece 55 may have other or additional connections with the body,as by means of screws 6| passing through lugs 82 formed integrally withthe carrier piece and received within recesses 63.

The speed control I4 provided to govern the rate 01' descent of theperforator within the casing, may comprise a sleeve structure 84confined between shoulders 55 and the end of sleeve 51, and havingintermediate bowed areas 88 engaging the casing with a tightnessdependent upon the radial spread of the bows. This spread, and thereforethe frictional resistance against free-falling of the periorator withinthe casing, is controllable by adjustment of sleeve 51 to vary thedegree of longitudinal compression and expanded condition of the sleeve.

The variational form 01' the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 10 diflersfrom the described embodiment primarily with respect to the cable coursewithin and in relation to the body axis, and in the specific form of thegun units. In Figs. 1 and 2, the cable is shown to be run through thebody in a straight course oflset from the body axis, i. e., itslongitudinal center. desirable to maintain alinement between the bodyand cable, the latter may be brought to enter and leave the ends'of thebody at its axial center by simple arrangement of sheaves, as shown inFig. 6. Here the upper end 68 of the body 88 is extended above thesleeve 10 and is recessed at 1| and 12 to accommodate the sheaves 13, 14and the cable deflection from the axial center of the body intoalinement with the protector tube 15. The lower portion of the body isrecessed at 18 to contain the enlarged lower end portion 11 of the guidemember 18, and the latter in turn is recessed to contain the uppersheave wheel 18. The locking piece 80 has a lower enlargement 8| which,like the guide member enlargement 11, is recessed at 82 to accommodatethe cable, the enlargement 8| being further recessed to contain thelower sheave 83. In this instance the lower end of the protector tube 15may be bushing 43 threaded at 44 on the bolt and bearterminated a shortdistance above the upper sheave 19.

The location of the sheaves 19 and 83 necessitates oflsetting the lowerportion of the firing Where it is rod as with relation to its upperextent 85 alined with the gun units 86. For this purpose, the guidemember enlargement ll may be recessed at 81 to accommodate and guide anintermediate enlargement 88 of the firing rod, into which the bottomcircular cross-section portion Be is' threaded as at 89.

The specific form of the gun unit 86 shown in Figs. 7 and difiers fromthat previously described, with respect to certain simplifications andthe adaptability of each entire gun unit to be inserted and securelyretained within its bore by installation from the inside. Here the gunbarrel 9!! threaded into bore 9! may be taken up tightly againstshoulders 92 and 93, to the elimination of the outside lock bushing ofthe first described form. Otherwise, the inner end formation of thebarrel assembly and its association with the firing pin 9 the flexiblecarrier 95, and

the firing rod 85 are the same as previously described. Fig. 7illustrates an additional or varia= tional way of locking the guidemember 18 and locking piece 80 in place within the body. Both elementsmay be locked in position by a pin 98 threaded at 960 into the body,with the end of the pin projecting at 9i within alined openings in theguide member and locking piece.

Referring to the first described form as illustrative, the perforator isassembled to be run in the well by first inserting the gun units 56,followed by the firing pin assemblies 2'3, firing rod 3!, and guidemember 3?, with the latter locked in place by bolt M and the firing rodrestrained against accidental tripping by insertion of the locking pind1. Thereafter, the protector tube that has been placed about the cablerun in advance into the well, is inserted within the body, the lockingpiece 55 placed in position, sleeve 66 applied, and the end sleeves 41and as screwed onto the body to' lock the assembled parts in operatingcondition.

Assuming the abutment I3 to have been lowered on the cable to thedesired predetermined position, the gun assembly is dropped into thecasing and permitted to fall under restraint of the speed control it.Upon engagement of its lower projecting end 3 3 with the abutment, thefiring rod is displaced upwardly to discharge simultaneously theindividual gun units andthereby perforate the casing. As will beapparent, the periorator is then retrievable from the well simply byreeling up the cable on the usual sand line drum.

I claim:

1. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising an elongated bodymovable downwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperforator, a plurality of gun units positioned in the body at rightangles with the body axis and spaced at intervals longitudinallythereof, a firing member displaceable in a vertical direction within thebody, and means contained in each of said gun units and coacting withsaid member to cause all of said gun units to be fired by movement ofthe member in said direction.

2. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a body adapted totravel downwardly while free of movable support from the top of thewell, along a cable lowered in the well in advance of the perforator, aplurality of gun units positioned laterally in the body atlongitudinally spaced intervals to discharge from the side thereof, andfiring means extending vertically within a length of the body occupiedby said gun units and displaceable in one direction to fire all of theunits and each independently of the firing of the others.

3. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a body movabledownwardlyalong a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperforator, said body containing a longitudinal opening adapted toreceive said cable, a plurality of gun units positioned laterally in thebody to discharge from the side thereof, correspondingly spaced firingpins in said units and spaced longitudinally ofthe-body, and avertically movable elongated firing member extending longitudinally inthe body and projecting out of one end thereof, said member coactingwith'said firing pins to fire all of said gun units as a result ofvertical movement of said member in one direction.

4. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a unit body adapted tomove downwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperforator, a plurality of gun units carried by said body, and coactingmeans carried by said body and cable for firing all of said gun unitsand each unit independently of the firing of the others, automaticallywhen the perforator reaches a predetermined depth in the well.

5. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a unit body adapted tomove downwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperforator, a series of gun units carried by the body at spacedlongitudinal intervals, and coacting means carried by said body andcable for firing all of said gun units automatically when the perforatorreaches a predetermined depth inthe well, said means comprising meansupwardly displaceable in the body, to coact with and fire each gun unitindependently of the firing of the others.

6. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a body movabledownwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperiorator, said body containing a longitudinal opening to receive andpass the cable, a vertical series of spaced gun units, a removablemember backing said gun units, and an elongated firing rod,between saidmember and the gun units and extending from below the body through alength of the body occupied by said units, said firing member beingupwardly displaceable in the body by engagement with an abutment in thewell to fire all of said units.

7. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising an elongated bodymovable downwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperforator, said body containing a longitudinal opening to receive andpass the cable, a plurality of gun units spaced longitudinally of thebody axis and extending at substantially'right angles therewith, firingpins in said gun units, a firing member upwardly displaceable in th bodyby lowering against an abutment in the well, and cam means carried bysaid member and coacting with each of the gun unit firing pins to causesuch upward displacement of said member to fire all of said units.

8. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising an elongated bodymovable downwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperiorator, means for passing the cable through an opening in said body,a series of gun units in the side of said body and positioned at spacedintervals longitudinally of the body, an abutment carried by-said cable,and elongated firing means extending within the body past said gununits, said firing means being upwardly displaceable within the body byengagement with said abutand firing mechanism for said barrel includingan actuating rod projecting into said chamber and engaged by the end orsaid plunger for movement thereby to actuate said rod to actuate afiring pin to fire said cartridge, when said plunger is struck.

10. A gun periorator for use in wells, comprising a body adapted to movedownwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance oi. theperiorator, a plurality of gun units carried by said body, and coastingmeans carried by said body and cable for simultaneously firing said gununits automatically when the gun units reach a predetermined depth inthe well.

11. The combination comprising a cable lowered in a well, and a gunperforator including a body movable downwardly along the cable, meansengaging the cable to'restrain tree-falling movement of the body, a gununit, and means for firing said gun unit.

12. A gun perforator for use in wells, comprising a body movabledownwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperiorator, said body containing a longitudinal opening to receive andpass the cable, yieldable guide means carried by the body and engageablewith the wall of the well, a laterally positioned gun unit, and meansoperable by lowering the perforator against an abutment in the well forfiring said gun unit.

13. A gun periorator for use in wells, comprising a body movabledownwardly along a cable lowered in the well in advance of theperiorator, means for passing the cable into and out of the body inaxial alinement therewith and for passing 5 the cable through an openingintermediate the ends of the body in oflset relation to the body axis, agun unit, and means for firing said gun unit.

14. A gun perforator for use in wells, compris- 20 ing a body movabledownwardly along a. cable:

lowered in the well in advance of the periorator,

said body containing a longitudinal opening to receive and pass thecable, a series of laterally positioned gun units, an elongatedremovable 5 member backing said gun units, and a vertically displaceablefiring member adjacent said gun units and projecting below the body,said firing member being adapted to engage an abutment in the well tofire said gun units.

EDWARD F. RAYMOND.

